In an opinion piece, University of Kansas law professor Kyle Velte argues that homosexuals and gender-confused individuals should embrace “queer joy” as a form of resistance against what she perceives as attacks from “white Christian nationalists.” Velte identifies various legal rulings she believes infringe on LGBT rights, including cases involving artistic expression and social services, arguing these decisions enable discrimination against LGBTQ individuals. She also expresses concern over laws that restrict transgender individuals’ access to certain spaces and participation in sports.
Velte links these developments to a broader campaign by advocacy groups aligned with religious nationalism, which she claims has successfully rolled back civil rights victories for LGBTQ people over the last decade, fueled by negative media portrayals from outlets like Fox News. She emphasizes that this negative framing creates a misleading perception that queer and trans people cannot experience joy.
Moreover, Velte reflects on the historical context of Black joy as a form of resistance from slavery to modern times, drawing parallels without equating the two experiences. She advocates for the importance of cultivating queer joy, while also acknowledging the significance of “queer rage” as part of the resistance strategy. Velte asserts that the intersectional experiences of queer people of color should be prioritized in this movement.
